Indicating and recording apparatus.



B. F. MERRITT.

INDICATING AND RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2!,1915.

Patented Mar, 13, 1917.

//7 van/or: Ben/am? fi/Verr/fif y HAY/vases:

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN rnnnmuc nmmn'r, or nas'r onmeii, NEW JERSEY, assrenon, BY imsm: ASSIGNMENTS, '10 wns'rmm ELECTRIC commmr, INCORPORATED, a CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDICATING AND' RECORDING VAPPABATUS.

Application filed June 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,410.

40 phone systems.

5 Essex an'tl State of New Jersey, have invented cer'tain' new. and useful Improvements in Indicating and Recording Apparatus, of whichthe following isa full, clear, Y I

engaged by an lndlvidual actuator in the concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to indicating and recording apparatus and its principal object is to produce an improved apparatus of the remote control type.

In accordance with itsgeneral characteristics the inventioncomprises-a plurality of indicating or recording devices, such as character wheels, adapted to be controlled by groups of current impulses, each having an individual actuatoroperating from a com- The actuators are successively brought into operative relation to the corresponding indicating or recording devices during the intervals between the groups of impulses by controllers whose positions determine the condition of the actuators. This mechanism is combined with means'for effecting the production of a permanent record. 4

This apparatus is particularly adapted for so fire alarm or police signal systems wherein a plurality of outlying stations, each designated by a characteristic number, may oper; ate aicentral 'ofiice indicator {or effect the pro duction of a permanent central office record;

It will be readily understood, however, that]; the apparatus andgrnethod' of 0 eration, fto'.j be hereinafter described," ii'sgreadily -:-a}pplica-i ble to. manv oth'er'nfses as,- forjeiiarn ple, the" indicating hf subseribersi; nfimbei's'in tele- The above and otliei vention willbe fully sfo'rtli' lowing description and c1ai-ms,- 'a nd will be.

erence to the more readily understood :by re accompanying drawing :iwherein thejcircuit' connectionsare shown diagrammatically and t-he apparatus is showningperspective.

Theindicating or recording devices com- "prise a plurality of character wheels o, one

for each digit or portion of the desired "indication or record, independently and loosely mounted; upon a shaft 6. Each character wheel is provided with a: spring 7, one end of which is secured to the character wheel,

the other end being fastened to the frame as "ii-a1, in-

" 32, 33 and 34, each of whlch 1s provided wheels to normal, as will' be hereinafter explained.

Each character wheel 5 has secured there to a ratchet wheel 8, which is adapted to be form of operating pawls 11, 12, 13, 14. Pawls 11 to 14 inclusive are secured to and actuated by an armature 15 of an operating electromagnet 16, and are adapted to cooperate with controllers preferably in the form of cam wheels 21, 22, 23 and 24. These cams are mounted upon and rotated by a shaft 25, which is provided at one end with a pinion 26 and at the other end with a gear wheel 27. The cams 21 to 24 inclusive are provided with flattened portions over a part of their circumferences, and are so positioned relative to each other that these fiattened portions successively come below a downwardly projecting lug 29 onthe actu- Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

lug is not resting on the ylindrical portion I of a cam that the hooked end .of its actuator is lowered sufiiciently to cause the reciproca-I tion of theactuator to rotate the corresponding character wheel. Normally the flattened Cams 21 to. 24 inclusive are each 'wise'provided with a pin 30. These pins are positioned beneath, the flattened portions of cooperate with azregulator or check mechanism for determining the time and extent of the movements of shaft- 25. This check mechanism comprises the checking pawls 31,

with a downwardly projecting lug 35, and all l re- I portion of cam 21 lies beneath lug 29 of actua'torll.

the corresponding'camsand are adapted to ofjwhich are pivotally carried on the armature 1 .5 of electromagnet 16.

Cains 21 to 24 inclusive are rotated in the direction, of the arrow at the proper time by a "spring 40, through the agency of a lever 41, pivoted on an axis 42, and provided with a se'ctor43 whose teeth engage pinion 26. Spring-4 0 tends to rotate lever 41 about as axis 42" in the direction of the. arrow-,5

but normally this movement is:prevented by, the engagement of a springftensioned latch 44 pivoted at 45 to an extension of lever 41 and hook 46 secured to the framework. The engagement between latch and hook 46 may, however, be broken upon the receipt of current impulses, since a lateral extension 47 of latch 4-1 is adapted to be engaged by armature 15.

A downwardly extending portion of lever 41 is provided with three contacting extensions 50, 51 and 52. Extension 50 is adapted, under conditions to be presently explained, to close a switch 53, one element of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 54. Extension 51 momentarily effects the closure of switch 55, one element of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 56, and extension 52 normally produces an open condition in a switch 57,

which, however, becomes closed when projection 52 is removed from engagement with one of its elements by the movement of le ver 41 in the direction of the arrow.

The rotation of cam shaft 25 by spring 40 through the intermediate elements is controlled by a speed regulating escapement system comprising a pinion 60, whoseteetn engage gear wheel 27, a ratchet wheel 61 secured to pinion 60, and an escapement wheel 62 with which aweighted verge 63 co operates. A spring tensioned pawl 65 forms a link between escapement wheel 62 and ratchet wheel 61, so that during the movement of cam shaft 25 in the direction of the arrow the rotation is governed by the escapement system, while, when the cam shaft is rotated in the opposite direction in the restoration of the apparatus, the movement is free from the influence of the escape-- ment system, and the return movement may be very rapid. This restoring action is accomplished by a restoring electromagnet 75, which is provided with'a plunger 76 connected to lever 41.

The character wheels 5 are retained in their advanced position, after the operation of the cooperating actuators 11 to 14 inclusive, by an individual spring tensioned stop 80. These stops are normally in a position to engage the teeth of ratchet wheels 8 to prevent springs 7 from returning the character wheels. They are all carried upon a bracket 81 pivoted to the framework on an axis 82, about which it is adapted to be rotated by a release electromagnet 83 whose armature 84 is carried by bracket 81. When electromagnet 83 is energized, all of the stops are removed from engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheels 8, and all of the character wheels, which have been moved from their normal position, are rotated in a direction opposite to that of the arrow until projections'90 thereon engage stops 91, which determine the normal positions of the 'character wheels.

If a permanent record of the indication set up on the character wheels is desired,

means are provided for impressing the characters upon a suitable sheet of paper or other record medium. These means comprise an impression electromagnet 100, whose armature 102 carries an impression member 103. When electromagnet is energized,

impression member 103 carries a sheet of paper 104 against the character wheels. Armature 102 also carries a pivoted spring tensioned pawl adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 111 secured to a paper feed roller 112. The paper sheet 104 is carried between paper feed roller 112 and a spring controlled tension roller 113, so that each time electromagnet 100 is energized and deenergized the sheet of paper is advanced one step.

The current impulses for selectively controlling the operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described are transmitted over a line conductor L, in characteristic'groups of one or more impulses each, from an outlying station S. The transmitting appa- I ratus may be of any desired type, being diagrammatically shown in the drawing as a code impulse wheel 115 controlling the connection of a grounded source of energy 116 to line L. The impulses comprising a group follow each other in rapid succession, the intervals between groups, however, being of considerably longer duration. The first impulse of the first group passing to ground through the winding of electromagnet 16 causes it to momentarily attract its armature 15. The attraction and return of armature 15 causes a reciprocating motion in all of the actuators 11 to 14 inclusive and the controllers 31 to 34 inclusive. It also causes latch 44 to be disengaged from hook 46, and spring 40 starts to rotate lever 41 and shaft 25 with its cams 21 to .24 inclusive in the direction of the arrow under the control of theiescapement system. Since all but pawl 11 have their lugs 29 resting upon the cylindrical surfaces of the corresponding cams 22 to 24 inclusive, only tlns pawl 1s in a position where its hooked end can engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 8, and only the character wheel associated with pawl 11 is rotated. Lever 41 and cam shaft 25-are moved in the direction of the arrows only a sufiicient distance to prevent the reengagement of latch 44 and hook 46, further movement of the lever and cam shaft being prevented by the engagement of lug 35 of checking pawl 31 and pin 30 of cam 21.

The other impulses, if any, of the first group arrive in such rapid succession that cam shaft 25, because of the repeated engagement of lug 35 and pin 30, is prevented from rotating a sufficient distance to remove the flattened portion of cam 21 from 1 its position beneath lug 29 of actuator 11.

one of the elements of switch 57, and this switch is closed preparing a circuit through a holding winding 120 of a control relay 121. Relay 121 is provided with an armature 122 adapted to cotiperate with a front contact connected to a grounded source of energy 123. This relay is also provided with an energizing winding 124 and a second arma ture 125, connectedto one terminal of the winding of electromagnet T5, the other terminal of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 126 and cooperating with a front contact connected to one terminal of the windings of release magnet 83, the other terminal of which is grounded.

During the longer no-cur 'ent interval between the first and second group of impulses, while all of the actuators 11 to 14 inclusive and the controllers 31 to 34 inclusive are in their retracted position, spring 40 may rotate lever 41, and consequently cam shaft and cams 21 to 24 inclusive, in the direction of the arrow until the flattened portion of cam 22 is beneath lug 29 of actuator 12. In this condition the shaft is moved a sufficient distance to remove the flattened portion of cam 21 from its position beneath lug 29 of actuator 11, and this actuator is raised so that its further reciprocation will have no effect upon its character wheel.

When shaft 25 is moved this far, the second set of impulses is timed to arrive. This set of impulses, since lug 29 of actuator 12 is above the flattened portion of cam 22,

results in the movement of the corresponding character wheel only, and during the short intervals between the impulses of this group continued movement of cam shaft 25 is prevented by the engagement of lug 35 and pin 30 of cam 22.

' During the longer interval between the second and third groups of impulses the cams are againrotated so that pin 30 of cam 22 passes outside of the influence of lug of regulator 32,and when the flattened portion of cam 23 comes beneath lug 29 of actuator 13, the third group of impulses begins. Since, now, only actuator 13 does not rest upon the cylindrical portion of its corresponding cam, only the character wheel associated with this actuator is moved. 7 The actlon as above described continues,

each character wheel being advanced as many steps as there are impulses in its associated group, and therotation being successively transferred from wheel to wheel between groups until the last group of characteristic impulses has. been transmitted.

During the interval after the last group, le-

ver 41 is moved by spring 40 a sufficient dis tance to allow projection 51 to close'switch 55, whereupon a circuit is completed from grounded source 56, through the windings of impression electromagnet 100 to ground. Electromagnet 100 thereupon pulls up its the paper feed roller 112 is advanced to move the paper.

Lever 41 still continues to move until projection closes switch 53, whereupon a circuit is completed from grounded source 54 through the operating winding 124 of re- The movement of lever 41 continues lay 121. Relay 121 thereupon pulls up both its armatures 122 and 125. Armature 122 completes a holding circuit for relay 121 from grounded source 123 through the now 'closed switch 57 and its holding winding 120. Armature 125 closes a'circuit from source 126 through the windings of electromagnets 7 5 and 83 to ground. Electromagnet 83 attracts its armature 84 rotating bracket 81 about its axis 82, moving all of the holding pa'wls out of engagement with the teeth of the corresponding ratchet wheels 8, whereupon all of the character wheels return to normal condition. The energization of electromagnet 75 causes its i plunger 76 to move lever 41 about pivot 42 in a direction the reverse of that of the arrow. This movement of lever 41 rotates cam shaft 25 and cams 21 to 24 inclusive, independently of the escapement system, in a direction the reverse of that of the arrow until the flattened portion of cam 21 is beneath lug 29 of actuator 11. Lever 41 is now in such a position that projection 52 opens switch 57, breaking the previously traced holding circuit through holding winding 120, whereupon relay 121 releases both of its armatures 122 and 125, and the entire apparatus is in a normal condition ready to re spond to a new set of signal impulses.

In the drawings, the character wheels are shown with numerals on their circumferences, but it will be readily understood that any sort of a word, character or designation may be placed thereon so that the apparatus LI".

magnet common to said actuators and operable by groups of current impulses, and means for successively effecting and terminating the cooperation of said actuators and said wheels to cause said electromagnet to successively rotate said wheels.

An indicating apparatus comprising a plurality of indicating wheels, an actuator for each said wheel, an operating electromagnet common to said actuators and operable by groups of current impulses, a cam for controlling the cooperation of each said wheel and actuator, means for rotating said cams, and a regulator for causing said cams to successively effect the cooperation of said actuators and said wheels.

4. An indicating apparatus comprising a plurality of indicating wheels, an actuator for each said wheel, an operating electromagnet common to said actuators and oper able by groups of current impulses, a cam for each said actuator for effecting and terminating its cooperation with the corresponding said wheel, and a regulator active during the receipt of impulses and non-active during the intervals between groups of impulses for effecting the action of said cams.

5. A recording apparatus comprising a, plurality of recording devices, an actuator for each said device, an operating electromagnet common to said actuators and operable by groups of current impulses, means operating during the intervals between groups of impulses for efiectmg the successive cooperation of said actuators and corresponding said devices, and an impression member cooperating with said devices to effeet the production of a permanent record.

6. A recording apparatus comprising a plurality of recording wheels, an actuator for each said wheel, an operating electromagnet common to said actuators and operable by groups of current impulses, a cam for each said actuator for eifecting and terminating its cooperation with the corresponding said wheel, check mechanism "for effecting the rotation of said cams during the intervals between groups of'impulses for causing the successive rotation of said wheels by said electromagnet, and an impression member cooperating with said wheels to effeet the production of a permanent record.

7. An indicating apparatus comprising aplurality of indicating devices, an actuator for each of said devices, an operating electromagnet common to said actuators and operable by groups oi current impulses, a cam shaft, electromechanical means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, said cams being adapted to control the cooperation of said devices and said actuators, and a regulator for preventing the rotationof said cams during the receipt of current impulses and for permitting their rotation during the intervals between groups of impulses.

lln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my namethis 18th day of June A. D, 1915.

BENJAMIN FREDERIC lllERRlT'l. 

